"Brent Hodges" writes: >Tonight we're tied up at the great little downtown >dock in Homa, La. This is not exactly trawlerin', but for those of you who love tugs here's a great story that starts in Houma; be sure to watch the videos. http://www.ghcoates.com/Tugboat.htm Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

"Butch Dalton" writes: >I need a small (3-4 breakers) AC sub-panel for my inverter installation. Does >anyone know of an inexpensive source, perhaps even salvaged? Better yet, does >anyone have one laying around the boat they'd like to sell? Thanks in >advance! Sorry for the delay. I know it's not "yotty" but have you considered a small Square D panel from Home Depot? That's what I used on Island Eagle, and it's what every fishboat around uses. I used these ones:http://tinyurl.com/6c7vyn Here's a picture: http://www.islandeagle.net/systems/0003D2D0-008583DB.14/P8210378.jpg Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Troy Leek writes: >Recently I purchased a new VHF that has a built in hailer and fog horn. It >hacs >adjustable frequency of 200-850HZ for the fog horn. My question is where can >aI >find the correct frequency for my boat? I have looked in the manual and >onlinte >with no luck. Thanks!! Good question. I looked this up a while ago (I put a train horn on my boat and it's not compliant). See http://www.stormy.ca/marine/colregs/annex3.htm Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

David Mellor writes: >Diesel price today at Van Isle Marina, Sidney, BC, (PNW) is approx. >US$5.50/USgal. Just an FYI: If you need to fill up in the Victoria area, by far the best deal is at Jones Marine Services in Chemainus, BC. Phone is 604-669-3900. When I filled my tanks last fall (roughly 5000 litres) they were 15% less expensive than the closest competitor. It's where most of the tugs and commercial vessels fill up. In fact, I only discovered this place from a friend who is a commercial captain, it's tucked away where you would never find it. By the way, they also sell bulk Rotella straight 40 weight lube oil, useful if you have an old Detroit Diesel like my 6-110. No connection, etc. Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Robert STRAGHAN writes: >I have a Northern Lights genset and want it to auto start/stop when the >batteries reach a pre-determined level of discharge. I recall reading that >Dave on Swan Song has such a system, but NL cannot supply. > >Any recommendations on what to use and where to buy? This is usually controlled by the inverter. Dave has the same ones I do, Trace SW4024. These have an output that can be used for automatic generator control. Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Mike Maurice writes: >3. When asked by US Customs personnel, don't lie or even fudge about the >circumstances of the entry or clearance. Further to this, here are some facts you might want to consider. I'm not a lawyer, but I am a non-US citizen who crosses the US border between 25 and 50 times a year. Fact 1: US Customs has the right to refuse anybody at the border, at any time, for any reason they see fit. Fact 2: Lying to a US Customs officer is a federal offence. Fact 3: One of the question often asked is "Have you ever been refused entry to the US". If you answer "yes" to that question, be prepared for unpleasantness. And if you answer "no" but have in fact been refused in the past, they *will* find out. There is no way to "erase" an entry refusal, and there is no appeal. And don't forget Fact 2. The long and short of this is that before you get up to any monkey business with US Customs, you want to ask yourself "Do I really want to be hassled every time I cross the border, for the rest of my life?". And for those of you who do find yourself in a pickle, do *everything possible* to beat a hasty retreat without being "refused" entry. I have twice found myself in the situation where the vehicle I was driving was turned back, once because a passenger (unknown to me) had a criminal record and the other because my girlfriend at the time was Australian and had forgotten her passport. In both cases we were able to simply turn around without being officially "refused". Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Jim Barrentine writes: >I am looking for an online source for 12 v interior lights. I am >looking for both the "hockey puck" type lights to install under the >cabinets in the galley and some very thin fluorescent tubes to >install on either side of the mirror in the head. I highly recommend Sea Gull puck lights. I've used about 50 of them on Island Eagle. They are about $10 each, which is a bit steep, but they are well made. However, if you watch, they do come up on eBay. I bought 100 (!!!) from a lighting store going out of business for the whopping price of 40 cents each! Here's what they look like: http://www.littmanbros.com/store/default.aspx?DepartmentId=533 For what it's worth, I also used another Sea Gull product named Ambience. You run a special wire (looks and feels like 16 gauge lamp cord) and then clip the lights right to the cord, which pierces the insulation. Worked like a charm for accent lighting in the saloon and under the cabinets. Here's a link: http://www.seagulllighting.com/Linear-Lighting.htm Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Your best bet is to find a chandlery which supplies commercial fishing boats. I used to have 32 volts on the boat and had good luck at Fisheries Supply (Seattle) and the Nanaimo Marine Centre (250-753-1244, ask for Keven or Joyce). Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.

Robert STRAGHAN writes: >Any suggestions for the best deck anti-skid product. Is this for a steel deck? Scott Welch FirstClass Product Manager www.firstclass.com Those who make no mistakes rarely make anything.